80 CURIOUS HOMES AND THEIR TENANTS. 



the ant clears the ground around the mound of all 

 obstructions, and smooths and levels the surface to 

 the distance of three or four feet from the gate of 

 the city, giving the space the appearance of a hand- 

 some pavement — as it really is; within this paved 

 area not a living thing is allowed to grow except a 

 single species of grain-bearing grass. 



" Having planted this crop in a circle around and 

 two or three feet from the center of the mound, the 

 insect tends and cultivates it with constant care, cut- 

 ting away all other grasses and weeds that may spring 

 up among it, and all around outside the farm circle, 

 to the extent of one or two feet more. The culti- 

 vated grass grows luxuriantly, and produces a crop of 

 small, white, flinty seeds, which under the microscope 

 very much resemble ordinary rice. 



" When it is ripe it is carefully harvested, and car- 

 ried by the workers, chaff and all, to the granary cells, 

 where it is divested of the chaff and packed away. 

 The chaff is taken out and thrown Ijeyond the limits 

 of the paved area. 



" During protracted wet weather it sometimes hap- 

 pens that the provision stores become damp, and are 

 liable to sprout and spoil. In this case, on the first 

 fine day the ants bring out all the damp and damaged 

 grain and expose it to the sun until it is dry, when 

 they carry it back and pack away all the sound seeds, 

 leaving those that had sprouted to waste." 



Dr. Lincecum, who had at the time he made his 

 discoveries public been studying these insects for 

 twelve years, asserts that the ants plant as well as 



